Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great action RPG that has stood the test of time and this Day 1 Edition is a superb treasure trove of goodies that any Ys fan will cherish for years to come.

Revelations in Celceta feels like the turning point towards the modern Ys titles because it's exactly that, and it ended up holding my attention more than any of the other Switch re-releases. It lacks the depth of movement abilities and character interactions that have come from Ys VIII through X, but it still manages to offer a very compelling adventure almost the whole way through. For anyone who missed playing an earlier version of Celceta or who just loves a solid action-RPG with fast-paced combat and movement, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is an easy recommendation. I’m hoping it won’t be long until we see Adol’s next adventure or revisit another of his old ones.

Another winning entry in Nihon Falcom’s action-role playing franchise sees Adol mapping an expansive forest, a feat no other adventurer has accomplished. While it played great in its original Vita-based iteration, this Switch port offers dual language voice acting, smoother framerates, and higher quality output for Tenmon, Naoki Kaneda, and JDK SoundTeam’s triumphant soundtrack.

From its engrossing and entertaining plot to the detailed and multifaceted gameplay, I had fun throughout my entire playthrough of the original Ys: Memories of Celceta, and I also had fun picking up this enhanced Switch version years later. Adol’s story has always been about the excitement and sense of adventure one gets when losing themselves in a journey, and Celceta captures that feeling poignantly. Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta might not be the most extensive remaster, but the original was such a solid ARPG experience that it still stands strong, despite its more dated graphics. Returning players may or may not be convinced to replay the game, but Ys Memoire: Revelations of Celceta is certainly worth newcomers trying out if they haven’t yet experienced the Celcetan journey.

Memories of Celceta isn’t my favorite Ys game, but if you have a Switch 2, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is probably the best way to play it. It’s a Vita game very much of its time, with some growing pains as a Ys entry, but the extra juice you get from Nintendo’s new platform helps realize the original vision as a 3D Ys delivering a higher fidelity experience on a handheld. Playing on a TV or monitor just isn’t the same, as these handheld-oriented RPGs don’t hit as well when you’re locked in at your desk or on your couch. If you’re still using a Switch 1 this is harder to recommend, as you’ll still encounter performance snags that don’t exist on other versions. Regardless, if you’re looking to check out the whole series, it’s now easier than ever to play Ys 4. Hopefully we can say the same for Ys 5 sooner rather than later.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a delightful RPG with lightning fast combat, that easily stands up alongside modern Ys titles.

That the ending is a bit unsatisfying and the game is fairly one dimensional doesn’t change that Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta offers excellent combat and a very fun story up until the end. With excellent foes, an interesting world, and unique insight into Adol’s character, this is a chapter in his life story that any fan of the series should absolutely explore. It does a satisfying job of providing a definitive take on this part of Adol’s journey.

After over a decade, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta proves itself just as good as it once was under the moniker of Memories of Celceta. Its only major caveat is that it really doesn’t bring much to the table as a new edition. On the other hand, for anyone who hasn’t given it a try, it’s pretty much a must-play.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great entry point into the Ys series as it explores a lot of lore of Adol’s childhood and reinforces his inalienable drive as an adventurer. For Ys fans who somehow haven’t played Celceta yet, I certainly recommend Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta since it’s such an important game full of world-building and character development for Adol.

This action JRPG remains a high-quality adventure that translates well to Switch with smooth performance and addictive combat. However, the lack of new content and modern quality-of-life updates makes it feel like a missed opportunity. It stands as an excellent entry point for newcomers, yet offers almost no incentive for returning veterans to double-dip.

All in all, I had fun with Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta. If you can look past the dated visuals and annoying map mechanics, it’s a slick action-JRPG with something interesting to say about memory. But it’s far from flawless.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a solid but somewhat bland port of a classic JRPG that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, warts and all.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a very basic Ys game. It's fun and has some cool mechanics, but the story is mostly bland and goes on for just a little too long. Still, the music is good, the combat is fun, and the initial focus on exploration is neat.

As a remaster, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is, quite simply, adequate. It’s nice to revisit this classic RPG, but the lack of technical or content updates and the absence of a Spanish translation make it somewhat less appealing.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a slightly spiffed-up version of a game that is very much of its time and place in the history of the series. While it’s not the best Ys game you can play on the Switch, or even the second-best, going on a journey with Adol rarely shortchanges the player on thrills. Those using a Switch 2 will find this to be a particularly comfortable handheld experience, but there’s a satisfying quality to it wherever or however you choose to play it.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great way to get newcomers into the series. It’s fast-paced, fun, and often satisfying to play as Adol and his friends, but the story falters sometimes, making it a weak aspect of this adventure. Returning fans will experience a polished remaster that doesn’t stray far from what was already great. Even with its flaws, Revelations in Celceta is lively, and it’s a blast to play.

Adol Christin embodies adventure, and even with amnesia, there’s a fun cast of characters and enjoyable combat surrounding him to carry through its thirty-hour length. Pacing issues do slow things down at the beginning, but once the story starts hitting that next gear, everything ramps up to match that enjoyably brisk pace. There are nitpicks that drag it down from being something truly special, but there’s a perfectly serviceable action adventure in Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta. The story of Adol continues, and this outing will keep players interested in seeing where the winds take him next.

It’s easy to enjoy Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta for what it is: a fast and straightforward JRPG that still feels good to play even years later. However, its age shows in ways that are almost impossible to ignore. It’s a decent entry for newcomers curious about Ys, but returning players may find there’s just not enough to justify another trip through Celceta.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a good entry in the long-running action RPG series, but it’s far from the best. Despite the game’s title, the plot is forgettable but the explosive combat, charming characters, and booming soundtrack are engaging enough to keep your attention until the credits roll. Adol has had more memorable adventures on Nintendo Switch, but mapping out the Great Forest of Celceta is still a fun time.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta's Switch release is a lot easier to recommend now via backward compatibility on Switch 2, and is well worth getting if you haven't played it before and want a great portable experience. If you have played Celceta before, the new soundtrack option isn't enough to justify a new purchase unless of course you want to revisit the game on Switch 2. I don't recommend playing it on Switch 1 though if you have other options.

For those just seeking a satisfactory action JRPG, Revelations in Celceta does what it needs to do. Solid character progression, enemy design, and exploration supplement an effective journey from a strictly gameplay lens. However, almost everything about its character writing and story suffers from hollow conflict and underwhelming resolutions, ultimately cementing it as one of the worst narratives in this series.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is still the same game from the PlayStation Vita. It is still a solid title to play with a strong core gameplay loop. It still has some of the problems of being made for that hardware, like its graphics and party AI.